indie (genre)

For the first time in about eight years, Brooklyn-based indie rock outfit The Damnwells are once again comprised of the original members that it consisted of during its inception in 2001. The four-piece’s brand new self-titled record, which is due out next week, epitomizes the high points of all the efforts poured into this much-anticipated reunion. UTG was fortunate to be able to speak with lead vocalist Alex Dezen about the band, the new record, and his songwriting.

To be able to bring The Damnwells to life this year, the band started a successful and fully funded PledgeMusic campaign to …

There must be something in the water in Buffalo, New York because no other city in recent memory has produced as many uniquely thrilling bands in the last five years as this often overlooked city. I don’t know the last time we went more than two days without posting about a band from this region, and today we’re thrilled to introduce you to yet another promising young band that will soon become (inter)national sweethearts.

Subtle Words are probably not a group you have heard of before, but soon they will be on every music fan’s radar. Blending elements of punk …

A few weeks ago, we heard The Japanese House for the first time when “Still” surfaced, seemingly out of nowhere. We were pretty blown away – but now, the elusive and enigmatic London native has returned with “Pools To Bathe In,” the title track from her debut EP, set to release on April 27 via Dirty Hit.

This new track has managed to take our collective breath away. Fans of Copeland, the equally-talented youngster Låpsley, and maybe even Imogen Heap will likely agree that the 19-year-old Amanda Bain is on an inevitable rise to greatness in the indie …

On March 31, Sufjan Stevens will release his brand new folk album, Carrie & Lowell, via Asthmatic Kitty. Pre-orders are ongoing in a variety of formats here. In anticipation of the release, he’s sharing another new single: “Should Have Known Better.”

As the second track on his album, “Should Have Known Better” acts as an introductory phrase to what kind of folk we can expect in his triumphant return. Bedroom keys eventually hop in as well as layered melodies and various harmonies with backing vocals. Stevens expertly layers it all to turn struggles into a beautiful reflection. While …

On April 28, Paul de Jong will drop his debut LP, IF, via Temporary Residence. Pre-orders are ongoing here. De Jong, who was one half of experimental duo The Books back in the 2000s, can work his cello through and through with ease, digging the bow into its strings to pull out some silver, liquid magic that feels strangely familiar. Though The Books are long gone, Paul de Jong’s return to the scene marks a revival of The Lemon of Pink style of playing. New single “This Is Who I Am” confirms that return to sound.

There’s something about handpicked guitar playing that never gets old, and Ryley Walker does a great job reminding us of how timeless it can be. The folk singer-songwriter drops his new album Primrose Green on March 31 via Dead Oceans. Pre-orders are ongoing here. In anticipation, he’s shared single “Sweet Satisfaction” to detail what we can expect on the release and it’s nothing short of intricate.

Ryley Walker’s ecstatic fingerpicking is what lures you into his songs, but his cool film of 1970s fog that sets over it will keep you around long after they’ve ended. “Sweet Satisfaction” sees …

In case you missed it, Grammy-nominated indie outfit Florence + The Machine are finally showering us with new music in the form of their upcoming record entitled How Big How Blue How Beautiful. Florence Welch and her band have just officially announced that their third album is slated for a June 1 release date in the U.K. and June 2 in the U.S via Republic Records.

Earlier this week, she released their album’s symphonic title track with a new music video. You can check that out here.

Kristian Matsson, aka The Tallest Man on Earth, is back and ready to strum until his fingers bleed. The folk revivalist and Dylan reincarnation has announced a brand new album is on the way. The album, titled Dark Bird Is Home, drops May 12 via Dead Oceans. It serves as his follow-up to 2012′s There’s No Leaving Now full-length.

“This is not the end. This is fine. I sing that now, maybe to someone else for comfort in all this turmoil because the sea can be pretty heavy,” Matsson says in a new trailer for the album. It’s …

When The Books broke up in 2012, an era came to an end. The collage-pop duo of guitarist Nick Zammuto and cellist Paul de Jong had invented a magical, comforting, mashup of strings and found sounds, creating the type of music that is as perplexing as it is educational. Since then, Zammuto has gone on to release two solo albums. De Jong, on the other hand, stayed relatively quiet. Today, he says, “it’s time to come up for air.”

Paul de Jong has announced his debut solo album at long last. The album, titled IF, drops April 28 via …

If you’re looking for a pause from all the winter snow, then make way for American Wrestlers. The indie rock Scotland-via-Missouri act will drop his self-titled debut LP on April 7 via Fat Possum. His lead single “Kelly” will single-handedly brighten up your whole day, if not week.

“Kelly” operates by avoiding cliche pitfalls and twisting the usual route. Sparing guitar riffs crack through lo-fi speakers and shake out a dissonant bridge in the chorus, acting like fantastical stilts for the Scotsman’s snarky delivery. He chooses not to clog it with clean mixing and, as a result, leaves enough …